Semmes and his Singing River Tours group meander slowly along the swampy Withlacoochee River on a 40-foot pontoon boat and continue down the spring-fed Rainbow River seven days a week — except when the weather is bad.

Semmes has made his full-time living for the past eight years or so taking tourists down Dunnellon's rivers. He teaches visitors about the local ecology, has some fun and plays lively, environmentally themed songs on his six-string steel guitar.

He launches from the Angler's Resort, 12189 S. Williams St., Dunnellon. The songs he sings are mostly from Florida songwriters, including one written by his mom.

Semmes has lived in the area since he was 9, having come from northeast Alabama. He can point out his house from the boat as he travels down the Withlacoochee on a crisp, cool, breezy day.

He explained that one day he came home and found the locks on the doors changed. His mother threw him out at the ripe old age of 43.

The boat tour itself is a lesson in Florida's rivers and ecology. As Semmes explained, anything with the suffix "cide" is bad: herbicide, insecticide, homicide, suicide, genocide.

Semmes likes to entertain as well as educate passengers about the river's wildlife and the importance of being good stewards of the environment.

Traveling down Dunnellon's rivers, one might see gators, ibises, hawks and many other winged creatures. During the tour, Semmes discusses how detrimental fertilizers can be for the rivers and said it's an issue of great importance to him.

Prior to being a singing boat captain, Semmes earned his living as a traveling musician. His skills both as an educator of Florida's environment and as a musician have made Singing Boat Tours a unique tourist attraction.

<p>On a recent afternoon boat tour, Captain Jon Semmes started singing a Florida-based song:</p><p><i>Oh, we've got roaches</p><p>The size of Texas</p><p>And they've got wings</p><p>So they can fly</p><p>They're full of protein</p><p>You think I'm kidding</p><p>Hey my mom can feed an army with her sweet Palmetto pie</i></p><p>Semmes and his Singing River Tours group meander slowly along the swampy Withlacoochee River on a 40-foot pontoon boat and continue down the spring-fed Rainbow River seven days a week — except when the weather is bad.</p><p>Semmes has made his full-time living for the past eight years or so taking tourists down Dunnellon's rivers. He teaches visitors about the local ecology, has some fun and plays lively, environmentally themed songs on his six-string steel guitar.</p><p>He launches from the Angler's Resort, 12189 S. Williams St., Dunnellon. The songs he sings are mostly from Florida songwriters, including one written by his mom.</p><p>Semmes has lived in the area since he was 9, having come from northeast Alabama. He can point out his house from the boat as he travels down the Withlacoochee on a crisp, cool, breezy day.</p><p>He explained that one day he came home and found the locks on the doors changed. His mother threw him out at the ripe old age of 43.</p><p>The boat tour itself is a lesson in Florida's rivers and ecology. As Semmes explained, anything with the suffix "cide" is bad: herbicide, insecticide, homicide, suicide, genocide.</p><p>Semmes likes to entertain as well as educate passengers about the river's wildlife and the importance of being good stewards of the environment.</p><p>Traveling down Dunnellon's rivers, one might see gators, ibises, hawks and many other winged creatures. During the tour, Semmes discusses how detrimental fertilizers can be for the rivers and said it's an issue of great importance to him.</p><p>Prior to being a singing boat captain, Semmes earned his living as a traveling musician. His skills both as an educator of Florida's environment and as a musician have made Singing Boat Tours a unique tourist attraction.</p>